CSR 2013

Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2013
4.0 Independent verification
Independent verification is the only true way to determine
the real environmental benefits of a product
There is a wealth of environmental data
and performance claims for products
in the market place today. Any buyer
needs to have the confidence that a
product will truly perform as it has been
described, and the only way to ensure
this is to be sure that the information
supplied has been independently checked
and verified. Foster ensures that all key
performance and environmental data
relating to our products, our company and
the information in this report has been
independently scrutinised. The history
time line (right) shows that this has been
our company’s culture for many years.
Foster’s reputation and knowledge is also
being used to shape future environmental
legislation in our market sector. We are
involved with the European Commission
on the EuP programme creating the
successor to the current ETL method of
measuring energy performance with a
new mandatory standard similar to energy
labelling on domestic products.
By Appointment to
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Suppliers of Commercial Refrigeration
Foster Refrigerator, King’s Lynn
> Our two ISO standards ISO 9001 Quality
Management Standard and ISO14001
Environmental Management Standard
are audited by Lloyds Register Quality
Assurance (LRQA) with 6 monthly
surveillance visits and full triennial
reassessments every three years.
> The Enhanced Capital Allowance
Scheme (ECA) enables private sector
buyers to claim tax concessions on
low energy products. Products qualify
if they are listed on the government’s
Energy Technology List (ETL). Data
for this can be by self assessment or
independent verification. Although
many suppliers choose the self
assessment route Foster’s data is
independently assessed.
> Our products’ energy performance is
tested by RD&T an independent test
body (originally Bristol University) the top
test house in the country for commercial
refrigeration.
> The sustainability performance of
our manufacturing plant is evaluated
by the Carbon Trust a not for profit
organisation that measures and
certifies environmental footprints of
organisations, products and services.
Foster is very proud to be the first and
only company in our industry to achieve
the Carbon Trust Standard and to gain
biannual recertification.
We don’t accept ‘green wash’.
It is easy to claim environmental
leadership but not easy to prove.
All our achievements are backed by
data that is independently verified.
Steve Denton | HSE Manager
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